The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-11-19

10 p. m. We succeeded IN getting 4
small lunch, but nothing that could
be called supper. Next morning at
4 o'clock we arrived at San Antonio
and stopped at Hotel Maverick.
San Antonio is an old, historic
town, with population of 10000.
With the exception of the plazas the
business streets are narrow and I'M
paved. The business houses, or
many of them, are built of white
brick or a beautiful white stone,
much used in Texas Cor building
purposes. San Antonio has some
very pleasant homes, and IN many
yards china trees, water lilies and &
variety Of flowers can be seen grow
ing.
One of the finest military posts in
the country is located ut San Anto-
MO, and at this post Geronimo. the
notorious Indian of Arizona. was
held for time as prisoner OF war.
Geronimo now spends his winters in
Florida.
Those who have never read or
heard of the "Alimon before visiting
San Antonio are sure to know some
thing of its history before leaving,
for the buildings have such an anti
quated look about them that stran-
ger is sure to ask what they are, and
every child in San Antonio can tell
their history. l will not attempt to
give their history in full but in brief.
| will state that the buildings were
originally Il convent and monastery,
but later they were used as a fort,
and in 1886 Santa Anna, with 5000
men, attacked the fort which con
tanned l49 persons. Col. Travis was
in command and Col. Dickinson,
Col. Bowie Inventor of the Bowie
knife) and Dayy Crockett were in
the fort and fought like tigers for its
defense. The siege lasted several
days, and at last the Mexicans sue
ceeded in breaking through one of
the walls and came slowly but surely
into the fort. The Americans con
tested the ground, inch by inch, and
fought as men never fought before,
but they were over powered by num-
bers, and with the exception of Col.
Dickinson's wife and child, all in the
fort including Col. Bowie and Dayy
Crockett, were shot down like dogs,
but they died like the heroes they
were.
San Antonio is about 1870 miles
from the Mexico line. and is by far
the most important city in Southern
Texas. The climate is very mild as
snow falls only once in about every
twenty years. A great many Next
cans live here and in the surround
ing country and the Spanish Ian
guage is extensively spoken.
We are now through in San An
tonic and take the Mo. Pacific r. r.
for Austin, Texas, the capital of the
State The land through Southern
Texas is rather rough and poor.
Cactus and mesqnette brush grow
in abundance, and the land has to
be cleared or grubbed before it can
be farmed to advantage. AS we
come north the land becomes
smoother and more productive until
we cross the Colorado river and then
we are in Austin.
Austin has one of the finest hotels
in the State, Hotel Driseol, but the
proprietor .bustedN Il short time be.
fore we got there so the hotel was
closed on our arrival and we stopped
at the Hotel Orr Austin is very
pretty little city with population
of about 10000 The new State
house is the most prominent feature
about Austin, and it stands at the
head of Austin avenue ON high
ground overlooking the city The
building is expected to be completed
by next May, and when done will be
one of the finest in the land The
architecture is very fine and every.
thing about it is large, stately and
grand. The state pays for the build
ing in land, and the number of acres
it is to cost is 100000
Waco, Texas, is the next city on
our list, and in ordey to reach it We
again take the Mo. Pacific r. r
There is a great deal of cotton
through this section and the coun,
try improves as we go North. All
Taylor we take dinner, and right
here we got the best dinner for the
money we ever got in the State
Taylor is pretty little town with q
population of perhaps 1000, and is
surrounded by some of the finest
country in the State of Texas
Passengers for points on the l. d G.
N. r. r. change cars here and We
had one passenger for that road that
did not change; and after we had
/ gone II or Is miles the conductor
came through the car, looked at his
ticket and told him he was on the
wrong train and that he would have
to get off at the next stop, where
there was nothing but a station
house and water tank; and he fur
ther informed him that he would
have to wait one whole day before
he could get back to Taylor When
he had learned these interesting
facts, oh my, but he did cuss! He
wanted to thrash the whole crew
conductor and all, and swore that
"God put more brains in goose
than he ever did in niger" He
accused the colored boy on the train
for his mistake, but in reality he had
no one to blame but his own stupid
self.
Waco is a prosperous city with 6
population of about $4,000. 1t has
two very fine hotels and stopped al
the Pacific There is nothing here
materially different from any Other
city, so we pass on through beau
tiful farming and grazing country
until we arrive at Fit. Worth.
At Fl. Worth we stop at the Ellis
! Hotel, which is very good house
for the size of the city. Ft. Worth
has a population of about 10000
and is quite railroad centre. As
we have nothing of interest to say
about Fit. Worth, We take the Texas